Event Comment: A new Opera. Written by the late Mr Gay. With New Habits and Scenes. Receipts: #207 11s. 6d. Daily Courant, 12 Feb.: Mr Pultney and Mr Pope were in the Pit....They were in the House before any body else was admitted. Sir William Windham was also present at this Performance; but notwithstanding the Countenance given to it, there was so much Obscenity and Scurrility in it, that it raised a general Abhorrence in the Audience. [See also The Bee, 17 Feb., for a puff concerning this performance and the play in general.

Event Comment: Grub St. Journal, 26 Feb. 1736: The second night (so well was this Comedy receiv'd by the Town) the audience of about 5l. was dismiss'd. Daily Journal, 29 April: We hear . . . The Double Deceit . . . was not acted last Night, on Account of a Letter sent by Mr Walker, who had a principal Part in it, acquainting Mr Rich, that he had study'd his Part, but could not make himself Master of it, and therefore desired he wou'd provide some body else to do it. N.B. The Part is about Eight Lengths, and was above eight Weeks in Mr Walker's Hands

Event Comment: Afterpiece: A New Dramatic Masque. Admission 5s., 3s., 2s., 1s. No Money under the full Price will be taken; and the Advance Money will he returned to those who chuse to go out before the Overture to the Entertainment begins. Edition of 1736: Invented by Mr Pritchard. Musick composed by Mr Arne. Scenes painted by Mr Hayman

Event Comment: LLondon Daily Post and General Advertiser, 17 March: This is to inform the Publick, that the new Tragi-Comedy, intitled The Free-Thinker; or, The Fox uncas'd, which was last Summer rehearsed and was to have been play'd at [lif], but by Mr Rich's letting that House to Mr Giffard, for that Season, was prevented, will be acted on the 14th of April next [at yb], by Mr Hallam's Company of Comedians. The Play is writ much in the same Stile and Manner of George Barnwell....The Author hopes that the Generous and Judicious will encourage the Performance, tho' the Company of Players are not dropt down from the Clouds, nor does the Play libel the Government. [No further announcement of the performance has been noted before 28 April.

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Alter'd from Beaumont and Fletcher, by Sir John Vanbrugh and Mr Dryden. Afterpiece: An English Opera, written by the late Mr Addison, and new set to Musick by Mr Arne, reserving two or three Favourite Songs, out of his former Opera

Event Comment: A New Oratorio. Tickets will be deliver'd to subscribers (on paying their Subscription money), this day, and every day following at Mr Handel's in Brook Street, near Hanover Square. Attendance will be given from 9 o'clock in the Morning till Three in the Afternoon. Pit and Boxes to be put together and no persons to be admitted without tickets, which will be deliver'd that day at the Office in Covent Garden Theatre, at Half a Guinea each, First Gallery 5s. Upper Gallery 3s. 6d. N.B. Each subscriber is to pay Six Guineas upon taking out his subscription ticket, which entitles him to three Box tickets every night of Mr Handel's first six performances in Lent; and if Mr. Handel should have any more performances after his first six nights, each subscriber may continue on the same conditions. The Gallery will be open'd at Four O'Clock. Pit and Boxes at Five. To begin at Six o'clock. [These notices concerning price, subscription, and time of performance recur regularly, but will not be recorded further here.

Event Comment: WWilliam Hint in a Letter (Daily Gazetteer, 31 Oct.): Mr Sheridan? was cast most improperly, into the part of Horatio; which naturally call'd for Mr Delane? in that house....but why was Mr Garrick? left out of the play. Would he not have look'd, spoke and acted Lothario?

Event Comment: MMrs Cibber to Garrick, late Jan.: It is surprising that dl goes on acting; one night with another, to be sure, they have not received above 40 pounds; the actors are paid only three nights a week; though they play every night. But the top stroke of all was Macklin's play! It was entirely new-dressed, and no expense saved in the clothes. I shall say nothing of the piece, because you may read it; but be as vain as you will about your playing Bayes, you never made an audience laugh more than Henry VII has done. There for the first time I saw your rival, Mr Goodfellow; I should have said the rival Mr Lacy wants to make you; do not be quite dispirited about it, for Perkin Warbeck is much below anything I ever yet saw. Here I must ask Mr Stevens's pardon, to whom I have done injustice, for I think he may dispute the pass downstairs with Perkin, and as his head seems to be the heaviest of the two, I think he has the best right to it.--Boaden, Private Correspondence of Garrick, I, 49

Event Comment: MMr Picq entered from Saturday last at 2 Guineas per week certain; Mr Matthews entered ditto at 30s. per week. Mr Granier for his Christmas performance #5 5s.; Mr Forrest, attorney, on account #100 (Account Books, Egerton 2268). We hear there is now in rehearsal a Farce of two acts call'd Miss in her Teens; and will be acted soon after the Holidays.-General Advertiser. Receipts: #77 1s

Event Comment: Published at 1s. 6d. Romeo and Juliet, revised by Theo. Cibber, first rev[ived] in Sept. 1744 at the Theatre in the Haymarket. Now acted at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane. Great objects only strike the Gen'rous Heart@Praise the Sublime, o'er look the Mortal Part@Be there your judgment, Here your Candor shown@Small is our Portion-and we wish 'Twere none.-Prologue to Comus alter'd, &c. To which is added a Serio-Comic Apology for part of the life of Theophilus Cibber, Comedian, written by himself. Interspers'd with Memoirs and Anecdotes relating to the Stage managements, Theatrical Resolutions, &c., also Cursory Observations on some Pribcipal players. Particularly, Mr Quin, Ryan, Delane, Mrs Woffington, Mrs Ward, Miss Bellamy, Mr Garrick, Barry, Mrs Cibber, Mrs Clive, Mrs Pritchard and others. Likewise Original Letters that passed between the late Sir Thomas deVeil and Mr Theophilus Cibber relating to the Stage Act. "Each Puny Critic can Objections raise@The Greatest still is Knowing when to praise,"-Buckingham. Concluding with a Copy of Verses called The Contrite Comedian's Confession. Printed for C. Corbett &c. (General Advertiser). [This pamphlet details Cibber's troubles with Fleetwood during the years 1743-46.] Receipts: #160 (Cross); #151 11s. (Powel)

Event Comment: With proper scenes, Machines, &c. [This is the Dryden-Davenant version.] Paid G. Garrick balance of his bill #6 13s.; Christmas Box to ye Beadle 3s. 6d.; Mr Norton 5 chorus #1 5s.; Xmas Jury #1 1s.; Mr Madden for an Embroidered Coat and a velvet suit of Cloaths #12 (Treasurer's Book). [This month was published A Dissertation on Comedy (by John Hippisley, Jr) in which the Rise and Progress of that Species of the Drama is particularly considered and deduced from the earliest to the present age. By a Student of Oxford. Printed for T. Lowndes (Gentleman's Magazine, Register of Books). The "Student of Oxford" seems to have been a Garrick apologist in the extreme: "But whatever reason there may have been formerly for this complaint [the immorality of the stage] since Mr Garrick's management the Stage is become the school of manners and morality: Ribaldry and Profaneness are no longer tolerated, Sense and Nature exert their influence; Pantomime daily declines, Dancers are but little encouraged; the Burletta performs to empty benches, and the British can now vie with the Athenian Drama when in its severest state of purity" (p. 15). Also, from the same source, Reflections on that Species of Dramatic Writing which it improperly call'd Serious Comedy: from the French of M Maillet du Boulley.] Receipts: #120 (Cross); #126 3s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: With Proper Decorations. Dance by Desire. Paid Mr Donell for a Brown velvet coat & Breeches and a blue velvet flower'd waistcoat #4 4s.; to Mr Hughes for a blue velvet suit embroider'd, a Gray cloth coat lac'd with gold, a scarlet velvet waistcoat, an uncut velvet suit & cold straps #55; Paid Blandford (Tallow Chandler) #17 18s. 11d.; Paid Mr Havers five eights share Rent 100 nights #7 5s. 10d.; Paid Mrs Stanhope's 2 shares ditto #28 6s. 8d.; Norton 3 chorus 15s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #200 (Cross); #170 8s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: A great deal of Hissing by some Gentlemen in the Pit--at ye beginning of the 4th Act an apple thrown at Mrs Pritchard, Mr Garrick call'd for by ye pit--one Gent: got up, & said they insisted upon another play for Monday--Mr Garrick said as they had met with no obstruction since ye first Night, the Author's property was concern'd & desir'd it might be play'd Monday and Tuesday, the last being ye Author's night, & wou'd give out another play for Wednesday--Several in ye House approving this--they consented & at ye end of ye play, Mr Garrick gave out Gil Blas for Monday & Tuesday & Romeo & Juliet for Wed.:--before this at ye end of ye 1st Act, & beginning of ye Second the performance, that Night had been interrupted with Groans, Hisses etc. from ye Pit (Cross). Receipts: #140 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Desire of several Foreign Ministers. [A last minute substitution made in the cast for Romeo and Juliet this night. See the notice in the General Advertiser, 13 Nov.: We hear that Mr Barry had the misfortune of being suddenly taken so extremely ill, as to be incapable of appearing in the character of Romeo, and that Mr Dyer, at a very short warning, performed the part to the general satisfaction of the Audience."

Event Comment: On Saturday next will be performed a new dramatic entertainment call'd Taste, written by Mr Foote. Mr Woodward takes this opportunity of informing those Gentlemen and ladies who have honour'd him with Memorandums for his Night of the Entertainment, that it is fix'd for Thursday next, the 19th instant. Places may be taken at the Stage Door of the Theatre, or at Mr Woodward's Lodgings in the Great Piazza, Covent Garden. Receipts: #110 (Cross)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: By Particular Desire. My oath & Mrs Simson's appear'd in ye G: Advertiser, & Mr Fitzpatrick now swore (in ye Inspector) to what before he had given his Honour to--when Woodward appear'd in ye Pant: great Noise, he said gentlemen, if you think the two affidavids to-day not sufficient I will corroberate 'em on Monday with six or Seven more. quiet on Sunday Mr Fitz: waited on Lord Chamberlain, to complain of Woodward's Insolence, my Lord sent for Garrick who told ye whole Story; & upon Mr Fitz owing he threw an apple at him, my Lord said, that act put upon a Footing with ye lowest, & judg'd him the Agressor,--upon wch Fitz; desir'd all affidavids &c shoul'd cease & he wou'd drop his resentment. which was done (Cross). Receipts: #100 (Cross). [In the General Advertiser appeared (1) Letter to the Public from Woodward disclaiming any note of insolence, and accusing Fitzpatrick of having a bad memory; (2) an Affidavit from Cross that he was present and heard Woodward say distincly "Sir I thank you," without any air of menace. He heard this from his prompter's seat "next adjoining the Stage box call'd the Prince of Wale's box"; (3) an Affidavit from Mrs Elizabeth Simson, who was standing in the "First entrance next the stage door, on the Prompter's side," that she heard what Cross Heard and no more, and understood no air of Menace to be present. In the General Advertiser also appeared a letter from one T. C. explaining the approach of Birnam Wood to Dunsinane in Macbeth on the basis of a story told him by a Scots Laird of a nearby castle, to the effect that the Clans used to distinguish themselves in battle by sprays from different trees attached to their bonnets. From this T. C. developed a theory that Macbeth's experience was one of historical face rather tahn a figment of Shakespeare's imagination.

Event Comment: A great Noise when they appear'd occasion'd, I believe, by a Paragraph in the Papers, saying, a piece of Machinery, of Fountain will soon come out at Covent Garden--so it was concluded we had stole ye design from Mr Rich--but not true, for they were design'd & made by Mr Johnson Property maker to our House--during ye Storm one Mr Bramstone, being Drunk ran cross the stage twice--fell down, & was taken off, like a dead Hero.--however the Pantomine ended quiet (Cross). Receipts: #120 (Cross). [See note to cg 13 Jan. 1753.

Event Comment: Play never acted before. [This new tragedy by MacNamara Morgan is mercilessly scourged by Paul Hiffernan in Tuner No 1, (21 Jan.), pp. 41-61]: To Tune it in Lilliputian Score : @Such sighing@Such Billing@Such Flashing@Such Heeling@And Dying@And Killing@And Dashing@And Kneeling@Such Rizing@Surprizing!@Such Falling@And Bawling@Such Attitudes@And Flattitudes@Were ne'er exhibited before.@ In the representation Mr Barry spared no pains; Miss Nossiter and Mr Smith strained hard-Mrs Bland, as far as her part exposed itself, did it with alacrity, but vanished abruptly in a storm of Lust. Mrs Vincent put as good a face on wanton barbarity as possible-and Mr Sparks who can do justice to a more spirited character, supported his Arcadian Kingship with becoming equanimity...It is a Romance crush'd together without choice, unconnected and full of Exidents not Incidents. Musidorus and Pamela , are duplicates to Pyrocles and Philoclea , which lengthen by so much the play, with repetition of the same dull nauseous tale of love, stirr'd up now and then by a bounce and a cracker-many persons come on we know not why, and disappear we know not wherefore....This new piece is an outlaw from all rules of Criticism; the Unities of Time, Place, and Action are unobserv'd; Plot, Moral, Verisimilitude, or even Probability unknown: many scenes bid defiance to possibility....Mr Rich stopp'd at no expence as to the Dresses and Decorations, and reprieving the play's duration to the utmost extent of Managerian clemency

Event Comment: A new Musical Entertainment. Written by Mr Rolt, and set to Musick by Mr Arne. To begin at 6:30 p.m. Pit and Boxes 5s. Gallery 3s. Originally announced for 4 Feb.; postponed to 11 Feb. because of the illness of Mrs Arne, and again. Mr Arne is obliged to inform the Publick...his new English Opera is called Eliza and the performance stopped by a Prohibition from the Lord Chamberlain (Daily Advertiser, 21 March)

Event Comment: DDrury Lane Theatre open'd Sat: Sept 13th. The House new Gilt, Painted & ornamented wth Festoons &c. Mr Mossop left us. Mr Wilder discharg'd. Mrs Mills is gone to end her Days in Wales, wth an Allowance of #20 per An: from the Managers (Cross). Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. No money returned after the Curtain is up. No Persons to be admitted behind the Scenes. Places for Boxes to be had of Mr Varney at the Stage Door. [Notice customarily repeated and will not be further noted.] Receipts: #109 (Cross)

Event Comment: Wrote by Mr Pope. Mr Barbauld's First Subscription Oratioro,...and set to Musick by Mr Charles Barbault, in Two Parts. One ticket for all three oratorios--one Guinea; for one performance half a guinea; gallery 3s. 7 p.m